Take-up mechanism for knitting-machines.



F L-ASHER, DECD.

R. LASHER. ADMINISTRATOR.

TAKE-UP MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 2/. 1913.

1 1 88,35 1 Patented June 20, 1916.

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F. LASHER, DECD. R. LASHER, ADMINISTRATOR. TAKE-UP MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 21,1913. 1,188,351. Patented June 20,1916.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANKLIN LASHER, DECEASED, LATE 0F UTICA, NEW YORK, BY RUSSELL LASHER, ADMINISTRATOR, 0F BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO UTICA KNITTING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TAKE-UP MECHANISM FOR KNITTING-MACHINES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that FRANKLIN LASI-IER, deceased, a citizen of the United States and late of the city of Utica, county of Oneida, State of New York, did invent new and useful Improvements in Take-up Mechanism for Knitting-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a take-up for knitting machines of new construction and mode of operation whereby a uniform, continuous pull is exerted on the cloth capable of wide range of adjustment of tension and speed with respect to the speed of the machine. In this the take-up rolls are rotated by a ratchet mechanism operated by the pull alternately of either of two springs, the return stroke being effected positively by a cam mechanism as the take-up frame rotates. Thus there is no jerk or yank on the cloth but a steady and uniform pull, for one spring is always equalizing the tension of the cloth while the other is having its tension renewed by the motion imparted by the cam.

An important feature of the present arrangement is that the power required to actuate the takeup rolls is reduced to the minimum by reason of the construction whereby no power is dissipated in ineffective action on the springs, i. e. the arrangement is such that there is no unnecessary friction for the rollers are out of engagement with the cam except while the springs are being expanded. The elimination of this friction lessens the pressure of the take-up driver on the frame and on the cloth which passes between the driver and frame. It is readily seen that excessive pressure at this point would injure the cloth, on fine fabrics particularly.

The invention is fully shown in the drawing herewith in which the same reference numerals indicate the same parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is an elevation of the knitting machine including a side elevation of the take-up mechanism, parts being shown in section to make plain how the take-up is operated. Fig. 2 is an enlarged, partial, side elevation of the take-up. Fig. 3 is a partial end elevation of the take-up.

In the figures 1 indicates the base, 2 the base-top carrying the main or lower table A.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 20, 1916.

Application filed June 27, 1913. Serial No. 776,132.

C is the lower gear, E the lower cylinder casting or lower casting, F the lower cylinder, the cam sleeve, H the matrix ring, J the sinker bed and 19 the sinker-bed cap.

On the posts K-L and the raising rods X X is supported the upper table B carrying the upper gear M, the upper cylinder casting or lower casting N and the upper cyl nder G. On the rear extension of the main table, provided with supplementary standard 96, is arranged the take-up column 3, having the arm 4, to the end of which the sleeve 5 is firmly secured. As indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2 there is fixed in the intenor of this sleeve a ball-bearing of any desirable construction, for supporting the retating take-up.

12 is a dust-cap for the ball-bearing, 11 the cam on the lower end of the sleeve and 13 the spindle turning in the ball-bearing to which is secured by nut 16 and check 17 the U shaped take-up frame 20.

21 is a drip-pan under the bearing to protect the work from oil. Between the arms of the frame near their lower ends are journaled the take-up rollers 22 and 23 covered with sand paper to engage with the cloth and connected to rotate together but reversely by the pinions 242-1. These rollers are preferably separated by a slight space as shown. On the top of the frame in ears 27 are hung the rocking levers 28 carrying anti-friction rollers 29 on their inner ends to engage with the cam and having their outer ends connected by ratchet rods 30 with the ratchet arms 31 journaled on shafts 33 33 of rollers 22 23. Said arms carry at their opposite ends the pawls 35 held by springs 36 against the ratchets 37, which are rigidly connected to the take-up rollers, or to their shafts 33 33, in case the rollers are fixed. on their shafts. The two ratchets are arranged at opposite sides as shown, thus being particularly well balanced.

39 are hand wheels on the roller shafts. By this arrangement it will be seen that the cam, the levers and the connecting rods return the pawls, but their advance and the feed of the ratchets is effected by the springs 10 connected at their upper ends to hooks 41 on the rocking levers 28 and having their shanks 42 threaded to receive the adjusting nuts 43 which act against projection 44 on the frame of the take-up, so that by turning these adjusting nuts 43, any desired tension of spring may be attained.

45 is the cloth roller arranged in the vertical slots or bearings 46 on the inner faces of the frame sides. This roller is merely for collecting and carrying the cloth as it is knit and taken by the take-up and does not need to be positively driven, for it is driven by friction. By this arrangement as aforesaid he has avoided the stepby-step movement and the jerk that would occur if the feed were from the cams through the rods. The spring does the feeding and because the tension of the spring is substantially proportioned to the tension of the cloth, the spring takes up as fast as the fabric is knit. As the springs work alternately one is always under tension taking up the cloth and at the same time the cam is operating to return the dog 011 the other side whereby the second spring is put under tension ready to take up when thefirst has taken up so far as its tension will permit. Furthermore, this take-up has a wide range of speed so that it automatically adapts itself to take up the plain knitting when the machine is being started and only the upper needles in operation. At that time the upper needles take all the yarn which afterward is divided between the two sets so that the stitches are very long and loose. The incline of the cam is made long, so that when long, loose loops are taken up, there will be wider range of movement and the long incline will permit the rollers to engage higher up on the incline so that a longer stroke is obtained to reenergize the springs.

As best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, oppositely arranged connecting rods 48-48 are secured in position connecting the lower ends of the supporting frame 20 and above one of the rods, in hearings in the frame, is journaled an idler roller 49 desirably having its periphery substantially in a vertical plane midway between the rods 48. The purpose of the idler 49 is to receive the cloth to pass thereover in its passage to the take-up rollers 2223. As will be readily understood by reference to Figs. 1 and 3 the cloth passing upwardly between the rods 4848 and over the idler 49 will assume a position in passing to the take-up roll 22 to give an enlarged area of contact on the roll thereby relieving undue strain on the fabric.

The take-up is operated from the gear 0 to which power is communicated by the connections here shown from the source of power or in any other suitable way. The said gear C by pin 50 is connected to the transmission plate 51, connected in its turn 4 to center shaft 53, connected by a knucklejoint to take up drive shaft 54. By pin 55, female part 56 of knuckle-joint is connected to shaft 53 and by pin 58, male part 60, to

shaft 54. Pin 61 connects the two parts. The connections made by pins 55 and 61 are surrounded by sleeve 63 resting on the upper end of cam sleeve D. This sleeve holds said pin in place and also prevents the knucklejoint from allowing the take-up shaft carrying the oval spreader to rock too far. The purpose of this knuckle-joint is to allow the oval spreader a slight play so that any eccentricity of the take up frame will not cramp the take-up shaft, thereby springing the 'cam sleeve. When the take-up shaft extended directly from the transmission plate to the oval spreader considerable trouble was experienced by cramping the inside cam. This knuckle-joint has been introduced to do away with this objectionable feature. Midway of said take-up shaft is secured a circular spreader 65 to aid in obtaining uniform tension on the cloth, and at the upper end of the shaft is the oval spreader 66 having thereon oppositely arranged projections 67 with their upper ends inserted between the rods 48 secured between the lower ends of the take-up frame as described, whereby the take-up is rotated. As the projections 67 are within the tube of fabric passing upwardly to the take-up the driving contact of the projections with the rods 48 is through the thickness of fabric. However, it will be noted from the construction of take-up described, whereby the energy is stored up in the springs 40, that the engagement of the actuating parts and the consequent friction is proportionate to the power actually required to energize the springs. Thus there is no excessive friction resulting in an unnecessary pinch on the cloth between the projections 67 and the rods 48 which would bi; disastrous to delicate fabrics in partic- 11 ar.

The means here shown for operating the cylinder gears M and C consist in a vertical drive shaft T having its hearings in the post K and having fixed thereon the gears U and V in mesh with the cylinder gears M and C respectively. Fixed on the lower end of shaft T is a miter gear 112 in mesh with a similar gear 110 on power shaft G suitably journaled in bearings 97 97. The power shaft derives its power from a pulley R journaled thereon through the engagement of the expanding ring S, with the inner periphery of the pulleys; the expanding ring being fixed on the shaft G.

What is herein claimed is 1. A take-up mechanism for knitting machines comprising take-up rolls suitably journaled, means for rotatively connecting the rolls to operate in unison, independently operating resilient actuating means for said rolls adapted to produce a tension on the cloth and to take up the fabric as knit and means controlled by the feeding of the fabric and operative alternately to renergize the resilient actuating means whereby a constant pressure is imparted to both rolls for uniformly taking up the fabric.

2. A take-up mechanism for knitting machines having in combination take-up rolls suitably journaled, means for rotatively connecting the rolls to operate in unison, independently operating resilient actuating means for each of the rolls, oppositely arranged and adapted to produce a tension on the cloth and to take up the fabric as knit and means controlled by the feeding of the fabric and operative alternately to re'elner- In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing wltnesses.

RUSSELL LASHER,

Administrator of the estate of Franklin Lasher, deceased.

Vitnesses:

CARLos V. MASON \VILLIAM L. NEUBAUER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained or five cent: each, by addressing the Commissioner 01. intents.

Wellington, D. 0. 

